ROBERTSONS INC.: September 2011

Sunday

Year 6

Tonya before Collin. . .

Collin before Tonya . . .

Fall 2003.... we met! Dating:

Summer 2005, engaged!

September 24, 2005: Married!

September 2011... 6 years later a happy family!

A few things about the 2 of us. . .

1. One of our weaknesses has always been eating out. Ever since we were first married we have had to limit ourselves on that. Not like we're out of control pigs or anything (well judge for yourself), but when it's getting too late to make up a good meal and we're both hungry, it's easy to cave and just go get some Papa Murphy's, Jimmy John's, whatever. Ever since our 3rd month of marriage we have specifically cashed out our budgeted "eating out" money for the month, and once it's gone, we don't eat out any more that month! It has saved us tons of money. But it's still something we have to do!

2. That being said, eating out is one of our favorite things to do. We have like 20 favorite places in Boise to go to.

3. We are total suckers for pretty much anything that makes us stay up late. Leno, Everybody Loves Raymond, even reading or catching up on work.... we seem to have renewed zest for all this about 10pm! So we now also have to set a bedtime for ourselves!

4. We are perfectly happy to sit and talk with each other. And we crack each other up. Good thing!

5. Collin has to brush his teeth with warm water. I have to brush mine with super-cold. This won't be as annoying if we ever live somewhere with 2 sinks in the master bath!

5. Collin always drives whenever we go anywhere together. I mean, always. I think the only times I have driven were when I was driving him home from surgery, and every once in a while picking him up from the airport late at night. It's super weird when I do! And I think Collin is nervous the whole time!

6. That driving thing being said, I am a super-cautious driver, and passenger! And Collin is a somewhat aggressive driver. (not crazy, but you know, the usual manliness.) I gasp or shout "look out!" any time Collin has to brake suddenly, or passes someone, or feels like he's going to fast...whatever. I know it drives him crazy but he is super patient. So you can only imagine how bad it will be when we're old people.

7. Ever since we have been married I have learned the ins and outs of collegiate/folk style wrestling. (see, just being able to name the style counts!) And I have learned much more about the rules of basketball, football and other sports as well. Collin has been to countless dance recitals, gymnastics meets, and classical concerts and can actually name a lot of famous composers and dance styles! That is what happens when the arts and sports get married I guess! ha ha

8. Collin always mows the lawn and takes out the trash. I always clean the bathrooms. (and let's get real, the rest of the house as well)

9. We are the people that get to church right as the opening song is beginning. Pretty much never fail. I figure it could be worse.

10. We have always been bound and determined to be people that actually park our cars in our garage. So far, so good, it has been 3 years with a garage for us!

11. I am considered by Collin to be a super-sleuth when it comes to finding out what he has eaten lately. That sounds weird. But he eats in the middle of the night a lot and I can always tell almost instantly when I go into the kitchen what is different. No matter how well he tries to hide his tracks!

So anyway, I could go on and on about weird things about us but I won't. Basically, I can't imagine what my life would be without Collin. He is my better half, and the perfect match for me. We have had so many happy memories, and it's fun to have an anniversary and a chance to reminisce on some of our happy memories. Marriage has definitely entered a new area for us being parents now, but it is turning out to be pretty fun too!

Tuesday

All About Ashlyn--7 months!

Ashlyn is 7 months old now! wow. Here are some tidbits and things about our life with Ash these days...

A word about her hair: (since it seems to be the #1 conversation point with everyone, given that I am so white.)

I made my first attempt at fixing her hair.... as in, really fixing it. The black girl way. I am now coming to see why it is so nice to have their hair up most of the time. Over the past month, unfortunately, Ash's hair has been getting long enough that it's starting to get tangled, and it looks really gross when it is, not to mention the longer I wait to comb it out the harder it is to do it! Unfortunately even with loads of detangler and her baby-fine hair, it is still some work to be done. Boy would it be nice to just have some pigtails in that lasted a few days! So, I attempted a couple of weeks ago. It did not go well. I need to practice. Just this took over an hour. Although I blame most of that on the fact that she didn't exactly sit still. Ever. Her hair is barely long enough to put into some little ponytails, and by the end of the day most of it had fallen out. I am just trying to find something to disguise her huge bald spot in the back a little better! I have not given up! Before you know it I will be a pro! (let's hope! Or I will be shelling out the $$ to have someone else do it!)

Ashlyn can pretty much sit up by herself! Although just when I think she is doing great, she will conk over and scream bloody murder. Last week Collin was sitting right there with her, and in 2 seconds she grabbed her toy basket and pulled it up, fell backwards, and dumped the whole basket of toys all over herself. She was not happy. But it was funny. Picture above: I was blowing bubbles for her. As you can see, Lucy was more interested than Ashlyn was.

To do: Get a high chair! I am SICK of clearing off my table 3 times a day to feed her. Plus, she figured out that if she pushes with her feet, she can scoot backwards in this thing! Holy danger! So, we will hopefully soon be replacing this method with something better.

Here is a shot of those cute little teeth for those of you wondering! Her second one popped in about a week and a half after the first. Like I've said before, not my fondest memories of motherhood, dealing with teething! My happy girl is nowhere to be found those 3 days before the tooth pops!

Ever since those 2 little teeth have come through, this is Ashlyn's favorite face to make. So funny. She is way more intrigued with keeping her mouth shut now. It's nice in terms of less drool... and it looks so funny to me! I think she looks like she contemplating whether to smile at you or not..... or something even deeper than that. She even smiles with her mouth closed now sometimes. So funny.

There's a big smile! She is still such a happy girl. Unless she's really tired or hungry, she is generally easily amused. Although she is busy, busy. Always, ALWAYS grabbing at whatever. Hair, earrings, sides of the changing table, books, Lucy... you name it. She is definitely not content to just sit around. ever.

She also seems perfectly content to sleep on her back. In fact, when I go in to get her up from sleeping, she is never in a different position, at all. She makes laying on her back look like it is so comfortable. I wonder if she is ever going to even try to move around? All you parents of older babies out there are probably thinking I'm crazy by saying that, but I'm just saying.....

And this is her #1 favorite way to sleep. Please don't think I'm trying to suffocate her! Ever since she was tiny we would snuggle a blanket up to her face to get her to calm down to sleep, and I guess it has stuck. I don't ever put it on her face, but 9 out of 10 times when I go in there to check on her, this is what I find! Needless to say I check on her alot! It makes me a little nervous! But mostly it is just funny. I mean, look how comfortable she looks.

She loves story time! I have started checking out some books from the library to read to her, just because I am so sick of all the board books we have! And we have a good amount! I thought this picture was so funny. I tried like 5 times to get an action shot of Collin reading to her, and EVERY time right when I was about to take the picture, she would look up at me! And look at that stern face! ha ha!

So cute. Her favorite books are ones with really bright, simple picures. We have a few Sesame Street ones, and every time she will just sit and stare. It's so cute.

A few likes:

-Story time

-Eating..... mostly bottles but getting the hang of solids

-riding in the Snugli or backpack

-riding in the cart at the store! This is new, and she is so fascinated! Although she holds on for dear life!

-Lucy!

-The jumper. I really need to post some awesome videos of that.

-Bathtime.

A few dislikes:

-Peas.

-Holding her own bottle.

-Getting her arms pulled through sleeves. (I know, still.)

-Getting strapped into the carseat (counts as arms getting pulled through?)

-The daycare at Idaho Athletic Club, dang it!

I haven't weighed her or measured her, but I'm assuming she hasn't grown a ton since last month, probably about 20.5 lbs and 28 inches? I admit I will sometimes tell the random strangers that ask how old she is that she is 9 months old! Just to save the "wow, she's a big girl!" comment that never fails. Seriously? why, people? Not that I care, it has just gotten a little old.

Well anyway, seriously I can't believe how fast (and at times slow, gotta keep it real folks) the last 7 months have gone. My favorite part of the day is going in to get Ashlyn out of her crib, and the time I get to spend with her. I feel like it's a constant battle to try to find balance between all the things in my life, but Ashlyn is definitely the part that brings me the most joy. I love her so much!

Randoms

A few things that we have been up to . . .

We finally got a dresser for Ashlyn's room. It has been a long process... first of all getting our desktop out of there (happened in April), then switching out some bookcases (happened in August), and finally clearing out enough space to make room for a dresser (happened in September).... and through all this I have seriously been checking D.I. and craigslist religiously for a cute antique-looking dresser that I could fix up myself. But every time I would find one I liked that was in my price range, Collin wouldn't be available to go pick it up, or someone else would have gotten to it first.... you know. So when I came across this one on craigslist it was a little more than I wanted to spend.... but then again it was already redone and ready to use. So it was worth it! I am still hoping to change out the knobs for some cuter ones, but for now that is pretty far down my to-do list. It is SOO awesome to have a place to put her clothes, besides in bins under the changing table and hanging in the closet! Hallelujah!

p.s.--note the super-adorable decor and wall-paintings, courtesy of my amazing SIL Megan! Check out her website www.paperroutestationery.com !!

I put in a DVD that was in the back of one of Ashlyn's board books... about Farm Animals. Seriously, both her and Lucy were glued to the screen. I thought it was so funny. See how intently they're watching the little pigs and chickens.

Art in the Park! Why not get out to walk around and look at weird stuff for free on a summer evening? Not to mention grab some delicious fair food?! Ashlyn is a super happy camper in this backpack (that was a gift-YO!) and had a good time.

Lucy was in absolute HEAVEN given the fact that there was smooshed food on the ground every few feet, and lots of other dogs to meet. So funny.

side note: I LOOVE how Boise weather is so summery even through mid-September!

I just had to post this picture for my own enjoyment. I think it is absolutely hilarious. When Lucy is tired (or bored) she will just come into whatever room I'm in, sigh a big "humph" and lay down like she is dead. It is so freaking funny.

BBQ

We had a BBQ on Labor Day with some friends: the Ellsworths, Golds, and Hodges. It was great to have some friends over and spend time chatting! It seems like every time we have these things, by the end of the night there is a "girl circle" with all the girls chatting together, and across the yard is the "guy circle"... I never know what they're talking about over there, but it's pretty funny. I feel like I hadn't had much of a chance to hang out with these girls over the summer so it was fun to get a chance to chill together. And did I even think to take more than 2 pictures? Of course not. I am awful about that.

It was Abby's birthday! I remember when she first came to primary as a Sunbeam, she seems so much older and more mature! Plus really I just love her whole family! They had had a big shindig earlier but Chandra brought a cake and we sang again anyway!

Yep, the only thing close to a group shot. Looks like we are all watching Abby blow out the candles.. wahoo! Thanks for coming everyone!

Wednesday

Oh my holy hannah

You may remember Collin's fantastic school picture from last year.... in fact it is still hanging in the hallway at school, is on the website, and still on the back of his name badge, next to his name: "The Legend." You may wonder how he could top this? Well I happen to have a sneak peak for you....

Be prepared....

I am warning you it's bad....

He was going for the "Kip" look...

TA DA!

He did have a "fancier" outfit on, you will have to wait to see the full effect until we get his real picture back. I have seen it on his name badge and all I can say is "That is not my husband..... I have no idea who that creepy child-mo looking guy is!"

Date Night at the Derby!

We haven't ventured out on dates much since Ashlyn has been born. Actually, this was the second time we left her with a sitter that wasn't one of our parents. But so far it has been fine! We had a good time the other night with the Blues. I didn't even have my camera so I stole these pics from Allison..... (thanks Alli, hope you don't mind!) and sadly there are no pictures of the 4 of us together anyway... oh well. I swear we were all there.

Alli had scored some free tickets to the Treasure Valley Roller Girls. I have heard of them but of course never been to any sort of Roller derby..... even with my minimal expectations it turned out to be quite the dud. Granted, the girls were dressed incredibly skanky (and you know, the kind of uh, plus sizes that probably shouldn't be wearing those ripped fishnets under shorts as short and tight as underwear), but there were nowhere near the amount of catfights and pile-ups I was expecting! I haven't seen Whip It, but Alli has and she confirmred this wasn't what it's like in the movies! Oh well, what did we expect, this is Boise Idaho. And I think the team they were against was from Salt Lake City. SOO hard core. :) But hey, it was free and none of us had been! Now I can say I've been to one! And it was worth checking out!

We left after the first round in search of some food... ate at Pie Hole (my favorite next to Guido's in terms of local pizza!) and did some people watching and chatting on 8th street. Then we walked around for a while and found some awesome art on the wall, whatever you would call it, in an empty parking lot and up some alleys. I love finding things like that. This is why I love living in Boise.

Last but not least we went to Aspen Leaf, which Sam and Megan introduced me to a while ago and I love it! Every time we are down town we try to go! (which really, isn't that much these days with a kid!) If you haven't been to one of these self-serve frozen yogurt places I highly recommend. And you should come with me so I can use your purchase to punch my punch card! Just kidding. But really, it was super-delish. It was fun to catch up with our friends we don't see during wrestling off-season, and really won't see much this year since the hubbies aren't working together anymore! (*tear) We'll miss you at CHS, Blues! Thanks for being such great friends! And for the fun date night. wahoo!

My New Favorite Picture

We went to a wedding reception and snapped a pic in the parking lot. Don't you looooove those cheeks. (I'm talking about Ashlyn!)

Sunday

NIGHT OWLS

Collin and I are the worst night owls! I'm not kidding. It's funny because as I was growing up I was forced to go to bed by like 6:00pm until I was in high school! (Just kidding Mom!) But really, I don't know why, but I have no problemo with staying up soooo late. It's actually worse when Collin is out of town, which happens quite often during wrestling season. I never seem to go to bed until at least 3 am. I just get working on stuff and don't stop. Is this the demise of the ultimate procrastinator? I put things off so much that I work late into the night? I don't know. I don't really think so, because I really am pretty good at getting stuff done during the day as well. For some reason I can just fly through stuff and do a good job on it the later it gets. Most of my best young womens lessons and singing times were planned after 10pm, and that seems to be when I am at my finest working on crafts or scrapbooking or whatever. I have been known to clean the bathrooms at 10 or 11pm. It's just how I roll. And now with having a baby, which means sometimes that's the only free time I get all day, it's even worse! And add to that being the only time Collin and I get to spend together alone all day, that also multiplies the problem! Even if we're not necessarily "doing" anything, you name the show and we end up staying up and watching it. Or just talking about whatever random thing we end up getting into a discussion about.... (usually something involving one of our jobs that gets us all heated and angry... ha ha!) but I digress....

This might not sound like such a bad thing. I mean, I think it's better to have a really good productive time of day, whatever time it is, rather than no productive time at all, right? Well it's more complicated than that. This year Collin HAS to be at school by 7:15. (That has typically been when he has left the house in previous years). It's a new part of their contract to have "office hours" before school starts. Of course this makes me want to leave a bag of flaming poop on the superintendent's doorstep, but enough about that. So that means.... leaving at 7:00, which means getting up by 6:30. And in this marriage we decided from the get go that we would be a couple who goes to bed together. This, as you can see, is unfortunate because the habit we have been in over the summer has been getting to bed about midnight and getting up around 8:30 or 9:00. BOO! Another reason I wish it was summer all year long. Oh well. So, not only am I a night owl, but I am also VERY unhappy if I don't get enough sleep. It may seem like an oxymoron but it's not. Ask my mom. I think I wasn't allowed to go to sleepovers most of my childhood for that very reason (not kidding this time, Mom!).

So, due to the difficult situation of liking to stay up late, hating to get up early, but having to get up early, we will now be learning to like to go to bed early. And while I'm not committing to becoming a morning person (even if I started to, I have such a hatred for them I would deny it purely on principle..... sorry those of you morning people out there, don't take it personal. Unless it's before 9 am.), I am at least going to try to get us to bed earlier, so we won't be in complete misery when that alarm goes off at 6:30. The question is, how to do it? It's harder than it seems! I can't count the number of times around 9:00pm one of us will say "ok, let's try to be in bed by 10:30." And when midnigh rolls around and we are finally getting into bed, we will say "oh well...." and that's what it is! We have tried making bets where whoever wasn't on the bed, ready, at the said time, owed the other something..... we have tried punishment for the last person in bed (like, having to make breakfast the next morning) ...... we have tried "making a firm committment" (hahaha)..... that all sounds stupid but it's true! So tonight (LATE tonight---no school tomorrow, remember!) we will be brainstorming on how we can possibly kick ourselves in the rear to get used to living like so many people out there already do..... any suggestions are MORE than welcome!

Saturday

6 Months!

Little Bugs is 6 months old! I can't believe it! Time really flies when you spend your days mixing bottles and baby oatmeal, changing diapers, playing pattycake and keeping on a nap schedule!

Ashlyn is so much fun. She has big smiles for everyone. My favorite part of the day is going in to get her up in the morning. She always has a big huge smile for me! It seriously makes my day! This month she has mastered rolling over from her tummy to her back... which means she will never stay on her tummy for more than a few seconds at a time! She is also so good at grabbing things. In fact, she does it all the time, nonstop. It is very necessary to keep an eye on her or before I know it she has chewed up my shopping list (has possibly happened more than once)! She has also mastered the "screaming bloody murder" cry, she can whip it out in seconds, even when I know she is not really upset, just doesn't want to take a nap. I HATE listening to it but sometimes it takes a few minutes for her to calm down for nap time. She used to work up to it, but now she just lets the big guns go right away!

Ashlyn's first tooth popped out the day before her 6-month birthday! She was definitely fussy during the last 3 days of teething. It made me realize what an easy baby she is most of the time! Ever since that tooth came in, she is always making the most hilarious little face with her mouth. She like, puckers her lips in and holds them there tight. She used to constantly have her mouth open and be drooling, but now she is always making that funny face! I still laugh every time I see her doing it. The above shot is a pretty good picture I got of it--besides you have to ignore the food all over her face of course...

I admit I have busted out the Baby Einstein a few times, especially during teething, when she refused to be left alone for even 5 minutes. Ashlyn's not really watching TV in this picture, but Collin thought this was pretty funny. And those of you who have babysat her know.... she loves TV! Probably because she hardly ever watches it at home. That changed when I needed 15 minutes to shower!

On to some likes and dislikes...

Ashlyn LOVES
-Sitting up! It's unfortunate she can't quite do it by herself. The current fix I use for this is to just sit her in her Bumbo with a basket of toys next to her, she will pick them up and drop or throw them somewhere one by one until it's empty!

-Riding in the stroller *for limited amounts of time!

-Bath time!

-Being naked!

-Lucy! She is SO fascinated with Lucy right now. She gets a big grin whenever she sees her coming and if she's close enough Lucy's hair gets pulled and her eyes get poked. So Lucy pretty much keeps her distance! It's pretty funny. If only Lucy knew what will be coming once Ashlyn is mobile.

-Being outside

-Classical music. I have noticed a big difference in how calm she is in the car depending on what music I am listening to! Hip hop? Not so much. But I put in a classical piano CD and she will sit calmly and listen for like 10 whole minutes!

Ashlyn does NOT like
-Laying on her back! I guess now that she knows how fun it is to sit up, whenever she's on her back she pulls her head up and flails like she's trying to do a sit-up. Oh, and she cries while doing this.

-Car rides! She all of a sudden has a super-short attention span when it comes to being in her carseat. Boo on this.

-The whole sippy cup thing. Good thing we have plenty of time to work on that, she hates it.

-Getting a shirt put on her. You would think I was torturing her with her screams.

We love having this little pumpkin in our lives so much! She is a sweet spirit and so much fun. Happy 6 months!